NaNoWriMO: Write Your Own Novel in 30 Days

Always wanted to write your own novel? Never had the time to do it? Or simply lacked the self discipline to finish drafts you've started? NaNoWriMo is here to make the process slightly easier.

Now in its eighth year, National Novel Writing Month is a non profit program that encourages participants to ram out a 175-page (50,000 word) novel within the month of November. Authors--who may be simple cab drivers, doctors, dancer, and more in real life--have from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 to accomplish the deed. Anyone who reaches the 50,000 word mark is considered a winner. Word count reporting is based on an honor system.

The program encourages intensive, past-paced writing. Because of the crazy pace--1,667 words per day-- required to "win," quality is not considered at all. While authors may want to polish their prose, NaNoWriMo just want to see those words get out of the brain and become something. No one needs to read the resulting product, and if the writer wishes so, no one will. The idea is to commit to a goal and make it happen. It doesn't matter whether or not the resulting string of words is pure garbage or the next great novel. Ten NaNoWriMo submissions have been published already!

While you still have to write every one of the 50,000 words yourself, Nanowrimo helps by creating a supportive community. Its website offers advice on writing, forums for sharing and procrastination, and calendars for local events. Wrimos, as participants are lovingly called, are directed to bond with each other. Systems are in place for writers to search for other writers and to get writing buddies. Regional blocks are established for local Wrimos to communicate with each other and perhaps meet up. In New York City, for example, Wrimos are already planning to meet up for "Write-In" sessions--gatherings at which Wrimos, oftentimes complete strangers, get acquainted and write together, probably with some coffee, scones, and good time.

So what are you waiting for? It's already Nov. 2 and you are 1667 words behind! Check out NaNoWriMo.org and join the fun now. If you are blogging every day, you can do this too. If you do this, you'll always have entries to post. If you write 1700 words a day for your novel, that can theoretically mean 17 entries and some 1,000 points (if you average more than 9 reads per entry). But of course, that would be taking advantage of the system and 100 word snipets of a novel-in-progress may not make the best blog entries (for one thing, they'll almost definitely not be progressive.)

Would you all like to see my novel-in-progress?

Share this post on:

 •    •    •    •    •